[Public-list] Rudder cracked

[Jonathan Whittingham]

JOHN GRAVES wrote:

>Patty,
>I went through this years ago. I had run aground in the Berry Islands, Bahamas. When I was back home and hauled out I found a small crack in the paint and I sanded down and found a crack in the glass. I discovered that the only way to get the rudder off was to dig a very deep hole so that the rudder post could slide all the way out. This was very difficult because the yard used a crushed coral like dirt that was several feet deep and had hardened into a cement like substance. When I finally got it out I took it to a guy I knew that did a lot of fiberglassing and body work, etc. He agreed to fix it for $75. He started grinding on it and the deeper he got the more patches and fills of all different kinds of fiberglass repairs that had been made over the years. (the boat was built in 1965). When he got finished grinding there was very little left of the original rudder. I was really sweating it. But I had patience because I knew this guy really knew what he was doing. It took about a month. It turned out that he really had to study the thing. It really has to be the right shape and completely symetrical or your helm will not be ballanced. It has to have a certain fluid dynamical shape. Fortunately this guy used to be a shaper. He worked with surfboards. Making and shaping surfboards. It turned out fantastic. The guy really knows fiberglass. After the boat was back in the water and I could check how balanced the helm was I was really impressed. I wanted to give the guy a $200 tip but he had moved away.
>Be prepared for what you might find.
>Good Luck,
>John (Trelawney #15)
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Patty J<mailto:Timbuktu5555 at webtv.net> 
>  To: public-list at alberg30.org<mailto:public-list at alberg30.org> 
>  Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:34 PM
>  Subject: [Public-list] Rudder cracked
>
>
>  After hauling my boat and having it blocked on land I have discovered a
>  crack right down the middle of the rudder along the rudder post.  Is it
>  easily possible to take the rudder off without having to lift the boat
>  or must the boat be lifted?  Also, what is the best way to repair this
>  problem?  The yard wants to charge me $1,870 to do this and put me back
>  in the water.  I was wondering if I could simply sand the rudder out
>  about half way from the post, slap some fiberglass on it, paint it and
>  be done with it.  It looks like this could be done with the rudder in
>  place.
>
>  Patty
>  Timbuktu 461
>
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